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France may ban beauty pageants

This undated photo provided by the Mini Miss committee shows Oceane Scharre, 10, elected Mini Miss France 2011, left, and Miss France 2011 Mathilde Florin. France's Senate voted on Sept. 17, 2013, to ban beauty pageants for children under 16, in an effort to protect children — especially girls — from being sexualized too early. Anyone who enters a child into such a contest would face up to two years in prison and 30,000 euros in fines, according to the measure. Photo: Associated Press/AP Photo/Mini Miss Committee

PARIS (AP) — France’s Senate has voted to ban beauty pageants for children under 16, in an effort to defend children’s — especially girls’ — rights.

Anyone who enters a child into such a contest would face up to two years in prison and 30,000 euros in fines, according to the measure.

The legislation must go to the lower house of parliament for further debate and another vote.

The Senate approved the measure 197-146 overnight, as part of a law on women’s rights.

The amendment says it’s aimed at protecting children from danger and being prematurely forced into roles of seduction that harm their development.

Such beauty pageants, involving girls of all ages heavily made up and dressed up, regularly elicit public debate in France and elsewhere.